Apparatus for picking hops from hop branches and clusters and for separating leaves and stems therefrom



G m mm R R A H R T H O T R Ms D S N F LW E L N A June 15, 1954 APPARATUSFOR PICKING HOPS FROM HOP BRANCHES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1950June 1954 F. F. DAUENHAUER 2,631,

APPARATUS FOR PICKING HOPS FROM HOP BRANCHES AND CLUSTERS AND FORSEPARATING LEAVES AND STEMS THEREFROM Filed Aug. 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet2 3a 2.5 /39 4 39 L 1'.- INVENTOR.

IL FLOR/AflfflAUE/YHAUE/Q BY J 13 13 M, a M

Arm/Emer J1me 1954 F. F. DAUENHAUER 2,681,066

APPARATUS FOR PICKING HOPS FROM HOP BRANCHES AND CLUSTERS AND FORSEPARATING LEAVES AND STEMS THEREFROM Filed Aug. 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet3 $3 4 H Ti A A 5A A June 15, 1954v F. F. DAUENHAUER 8 APPARATUS FORPICKING HOPS FROM HOP BRANCHES AND CLUSTERS AND FOR SEPARATING LEAVESAND STEMS THEREFROM Filed. Aug. 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wfyl 38 x yaw/l5 c1 INVENTOR.

Patented June '15, 1954 APPARATUS Foa PICKING noes FaoM nor BRANCHES ANDoiiris'rsas AND FOR sar- AnA'riNo LEAVES AND STEME; Triass- FROM 18Claims.

1 An object of invention is to provide an apparatus for picking hopsfrom hop branches and clusters and for separating leaves and stemstherefrom is especially designed to receive hop cluste s and broken offvine portions that are delivered from the hop picking machine shown inmy copending application, Ser. No. 179,722, filed August 15, 1959. Thepresent apparatus comprises two main parts, troinmel for separating hopsfrom the other vine portions, and a branch picker for removing hops fromhop branches and hop clusters. The branch picker could be used forpurposes other than picking hops from branches, such as by of example,the picking of string beans from vines.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the trommel and hop branch picker cooperate with eachother to pick hops from branches and hop clusters and to separate thehops from all other parts of the hop vines. The trommel removes freedhops and delivers all other portions of the vine and any hops carriedthereby, to the hop branch picker. The hop branch picker severs the hopsfrom any vine portions or hop clusters and delivers the ireed hops backto the trornmel for screening.

A further object of m invention isto provide a device of the typedescribed whichis efficient for the purpose intended and willeffectively pick and separate hops from hop vine branches or clusters.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the-accompanying drawings forming a partof this application, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the devic a portion being brokenaway-for clarityandis shown coupled to my hop picking machine;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the line ii lil of Figure1, and illustrates the trcmniel;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the branchpicker;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the line IVI'V of Figure 3,and illustrates the fixed breaker fork of the branch picker;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken along the line V--V of Figure 3,and shows the rotary feedor forks;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the circled portion-VI shown in Figure3; and shows-the supporting means for one of the tines in th fixedbreaker fork;

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken along the line VII--VII of Figure3, and shows the rockor levers used in connection with the verticallymovable forks;

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the branch pickerand shows the rocker levers with their vertically movable forks and thehop picking means associated with the forks;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 8,and shows the mounting for one of the rocker levers;

Figure 10 a ver cal section taken along the line XX of Figur 12 andshows how the-hop picking fingers are moved in relation to thevertically reci vrocable forks;

Figure 11 is a transverse section taken along the line Xl-Jil of Figure8 and illustrates the Ill means for oscillating the rocker levers thatin turn reciprocate the vertically movable forks;

Figure 12 is a transverse section taken along the line XIIXII of Figure8;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of a portionof Figure 8 when looking inthedirection of the arrows XIII-XIII;

Figure 14 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the lin XIV XIVof Figure 8, and illustrates a guide for one of the vertically movableforks; and

Figure 15 illustrates the arrangement ofthe tines in the rotary feederfork.

While I have shown only the preferredform of my invention, it should beunderstood that 4 various changes or modifications maybemade within thescope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit and scopeOf'the invention.

In carrying out my invention I will describe the structure of thetrommel in detail and then ;will describe the structure of the branchpicker in detail.

Trommel In Figures 1 and 2 I show the trommel at A in its relation tothe hop picking machine which is described and claimed in mycopending'application Ser, No. 179,722, filed August 16, 1 950. 3 In thecopending case, hops are picked from the vines and are delivered to anendless screen conveyor 13, also shown in Figure 1. The screen conveyorhas large enough openings to permit the hop to pass therethrou'gh and tob delivered to a discharge conveyor bltthat parallels the hop pickerand" is i indicated generally at C in' Figure 2. The hops and anysmaller foreign particles that pass through the endless screen conveyorB and delivered to the discharge conveyor belt C, are carried by theconveyor C to a hop separating belt mechanism indicated generally at Xin Figure 1 and described in detail and claimed in my copendingapplication on an Apparatus for Separating Picked Hops From Leaves andStems, Serial No. 179,723, filed August 16, 1950.

The trommel A in the present case is designed to receive hop vinebranches, hop clusters and the like which have been removed from the hopvines by the picking fingers of my hop picker and have been delivered tothe upper reach Bl of the endless screen conveyor B. This material istoo large to pass through the screen conveyor and to be delivered to thedischarge conveyor C. Figure 1, therefore, shows the endless screenconveyor B delivering this material to the interior of the trommel A.

The branch picker indicated generally at D in Figure 1, has a combinedpicker and endless conveyor shown at E, whose upper reach El extendsinto th interior of the trommel and receives the material from thescreen conveyor B. Some of this material will be small enough to passdirectly through both the upper and lower reaches El and E2 of thecombined picker and endless conveyor E. This material will drop upon thelower reach Fl of an endless screen conveyor F mounted in the trommel A.The lower reach Fl moves in a direction at right angles to the directionof travel of the upper reach Bl of the screen conveyor B. Any free hopsthat reach the upper surface of the lower reach Fl will pass directlythrough the endless screen conveyor F and will be discharged upon thehop separating belt mechanism indicated generally at X and described inmy above mentioned copending appli cation serial No. 179,723.

In Figure 2, the endless screen conveyor F is shown provided with anupper reach F2 that is spaced a considerable distance above the lowerreach Fl in order to provide room for a portion of the endless conveyorE. The upper reach F2 of the endless screen conveyor F is passed overthree supporting drums l, 2 and 3 shown in Figure 2. The endless screenconveyor F moves in a counter-clockwise direction when looking at Figure2 and an idler 4 positions the lower reach Fl in proper relation withrespect to the upper reach F2. As the lower reach Fl moves in thedirection of the arrow a shown in Figure 2, any freed hops delivered tothis portion will pass through the conveyor. All of the rest of thematerial will remain on the upper surface of the lower reach Fl and willbe carried upwardly toward the drum l.

I provide novel means for preventing the material carried up to theupper reach F2 by the moving screen conveyor F from dropping back uponthe lower reach Fl until this material is carried substantially to acentral point of the trommel and above the upper reach El of thecombined picker and endless conveyor E. When the material reaches thisportion, it will fall upon the upper reach El of the branch picker D forthe picking of any hops that might be clinging to the hop vine material.The novel means comprises an endless moving shield G in the shape of aconveyor belt that is passed around the drums l and 2 and underlies thatportion of the upper reach.F2 that extends between the two drums. Theupper reach Gl of the moving shield will prevent any material carriedalong by the under surface of the upper moving reach F2, from droppingdown upon the lower reach Fl of the endless screen conveyor.

The endless moving shield G will be moved at the same speed as theendless screen conveyor F and therefore the two members will hold anyforeign material therebetween and will carry it up to the top center ofthe trommel A. At this point, the upper reach Gl of the moving shieldturns back on itself as it passes around the drum 2 and becomes aportion of the lower reach G2. The material carried along by the undersurface of the upper reach F2 is now freed from the shield GI and willdrop upon the upper reach El of the branch picker D. The endless screenconveyor F of the trommel A will only permit separated hops to dropthrough the screen F and any other material that is small enough to passthrough the mesh of the screen.

In Figure 1 I illustrate one way of operating the trommel. It will beseen from this figure that the shaft 5 that carries the drum 6 aroundwhich the endless screen conveyor B moves has a sprocket 1 around whicha sprocket chain 8 is passed. The sprocket chain 8 is also passed arounda sprocket 9 that is mounted on a shaft Ill and this shaft supports thedrum 2 shown in Figure 2. The drum 2 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection and will cause the endless screen conveyor F to move in themanner already explained.

Branch picker I will now describe the branch picker D in detail and willshow its relation to the trommel A. I have already set forth how thebranch picker is provided with a combined picker and endless conveyor E.Figure 1 shows the endless conveyor E as being passed around a drum l Ithat is disposed within the trommel A and is positioned a slightdistance above the lower reach Fl of the screen conveyor F. The drum llis rotated in a clockwise direction and I indicate a chain and sprocketdrive I? for connecting the drum ll to the shaft 5. The endless conveyorE therefore drives the shaft 5 and moves the screen conveyors B and F.

The frame l3 for supporting the combined picker and endless conveyor E,extends upwardly at an angle from the trommel A, as clearly indicated inFigure l. The combined conveyor and picker E is provided with twoendless chains 38, spaced apart and carrying a plurality of transversely extending angle irons is, see Figures 10 and 12. The angle ironsl d carry hop picking fingers iii of the shape shown in my copendingapplication on the hop picking machine. These fingers extend in rowsacross each bar l 4 and will act as conveying members for carryingmaterial dropping thereon from the conveyor B or from the trommel A.This material will be conveyed in an upwardly inclined direction andpast a hop vine branch spreader comprising a fixed breaker fork Hclearly shown in Figures 3 to 7, inclusive and a rotary feeder fork J.

Hop vine branch spreader Figure 3 illustrates the side members l3 of thebranch picker D as supporting uprights l6 and these uprights in turnsupport a cross beam l! which is square in cross section, see Figures 3and 4 and 6. The frame members l3 are shown in a horizontal position inFigure 3, although in actual practice they extend upwardly at an angleas illustrated in Figure 1,. The cross beam l'l assume?- has openings 18in its upper andlowen surfaces tines i9, although I'do not wishtoloeconfined to this exact number and I also show these tines as beingadjustably heldin place by set screws 29, see Figure 6, so that theirlower ends can be spaced above the upper reach El, see Figure 3.Reinforcing braces 2! are secured to the free vertical face of the boxbeam ii and have their lower ends weldedto the uprights it so as to holdthe box beam against any twisting action which might result from theportion of vines contacting the tines i9 and tending to swing them in acounterclockwise directionabout the'box' beam IT as acenter.

I provide novel means for forcing the branch portions through thestationary fork H of the hop vine branch spreader and separator and thismeans comprises the rotary feeder fork indicated generally at J inFigures 3, and '7. The rotary feeder fork is composed of a pair ofendless sprocket chains 22 which are mounted on pairs of sprockets 23and 25. Figure 5 shows the pair of sprocket chains 22 supportingangle-shaped cross bars 25 and these bars in turn carry fingers or'tines26.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that I make use of four crossbars 25 and each one carries a pair of tines or fingers 26. The tines,however; are placed in different positions on each of the cross bars 25.In the development view of Figure 15, I show the two chains 22 spacedapart and I also show the four cross bars 25. The pairs of tines 26carried bythe successive cross bars are arranged in diiferent positionson each bar as shown in Figure 15. In Figure 4 I show two of the tines25 passing through the first and fifth spaces (counting from the left)provided between the first and second, and the fifth and sixth tines"l9. circles how the other pairs of tines shown in Figure 15, will passthrough the spaces of the other bars or stationary tines I9 of thecombing and breaker fork H.

In Figure 3, one pair of moving tines 2e is shown passing between thestationary tines It. The moving tines 28 or stripperhars, will reachthrough the slots in the fixed combing and breaker fork H and will pullany hop vineportions that are held up. by the tines l9, through theslots. A spreading as well as a separating action is imparted to thevine portions by this action. The rotary feeder and breaker fork J willalso open up any masses of vine portions that are temporarily restrainedby the fork H. The vine portions will be spread out more uniformly in ahorizontallayer ontop of the upper reach El. of the combined picker andendless conveyor E.

Branch and cluster picking unit The vine portions are. now readytoenterthe branch and cluster picking unit of. the branch picker D. In Figure8, a; detail of the branch and cluster picking unit is illustrated withthe frame members being shown in a horizontal position rather than inthe inclined position shown in Figure 1. cross shafts 2'3, see alsoFigure 12, and these are mounted in bearin s is that are secured to theframe members l3. The extreme right hand crossshaft 2? shown in Figure 8is also shown in Figure'12 and since each shaft supports a pairof-sprockets 29 which carry a portion of the I also show by dotted Theunit comprises a plurality of,

6 combined picker andendless conveyor E; a detail description of theright hand shaft 21 shown: in Figure 8 and the adjacentshaft 2T,will-sumac for all of the similarly numbered-shafts. Again. referring toFigure 12, I show the combined picker and endless conveyor-E composed oftwo endless sprocket chains 3t that are passed around thesprockets 29and around idler sprockets 3 1'. Figure 8 shows an idler sprockettl-placed between every two sprockets 29.

Cross bars I l which are angularin shape,- see Figure 10, extendbetweenthe parallel chains--30 and are connected thereto inspacedrelationt These cross barscarry a row of picker fingers l5 and thefingers extend outwardly from the bars as shown in Figure 10, the outerends ofthe" fingers describingarcs indicated by the'dot dash lines 34 inthe same figure. The idler sprockets 3! are not-only placedbetweenadjacent pairs of sprockets 29, but they are positioned below thesprockets 29 so as to form the combined picker and endless conveyor intoa series of" reverse curves. The portions of theconveyor lit extendingbetween adjacent sprocketsEQ-and 31; move in planes at right angles to aplaneeXtend-- ing through the frame members it. This arrangement causesthe fingers it after passing through an are 3%, see Figure 10, to movein a direction at right angles to the frame members l3 and to a positionbelow'the' frame members As the chains 31! move around the idlersprocket 3!, the fingers iii are altered in their line of travel so asto be reversed in their direction and start moving toward the framemembers It and again in a direction at right angles to the plane of theframe members. The chains 39 will then pass around the next pair ofsprockets 29 and the fingers is will move through another are 34:

Figures 1 and 8 illustrate-how the arcs tfiiformed" by the ends of thepicker fingers will extend throughout the length of the branch pickingunit of the member 13-. Figure 1 shows seven such arcs 3t, but I do notwish: to. beconfined tov any particular number.

The purpose of moving the upper reachEl of] the endless picker chain Ein a. series of arcs il l'. is to spread the fingers while at the sametime,- giving them an arcuate sweeping action .in order; to reach allportions of the hop vinebranches, or hop clusters that have beenbrokenup by the stationary combing and breaker fork I-I'and the movablebreaker fork J. It will be seen from Figure 10 that the actual movementof the cornbined picker and endless conveyor E will bein a clockwisedirection as the conveyor passes around the two sprockets 29 shown inthis figure. The fingers [5 in passing through the left hand arc 34a inFigure 10, will take a convex pathpicking action against the hopbranches disposed directly above these fingers. remove any hops on thesebranches and the freed hops will drop onto an inclinedconveyor 35 shown7 in Figure 1 and willbe carried back to the upper surface of the lowerreach Fl of' the" endless screen conveyor F in the trormnel A.

Again referring to Figure 10, after the fingers l5 have passed throughthe arc tiiato 'pickhops, they will be carried around the idler sprocket3| and then will be moved through another convex arcuate sweep 34b in aclockwise direction to perform another picking action on the hopbranches. The right hand sprocket 29 in Figure" 10 is the final one andthe combined picker and endless conveyor E in passing round thissprocket; will discharge any remainingmaterial that passes- The fingerswill 7 beyond the final are 3422 from the branch picker.

Again referring to Figures 1 and 8, it will be seen that I provide anidler sprocket that spaces a portion of the lower reach E2 of theendless conveyor E out of contact with the adjacent idler sprocket 3| sothat there will be no interference between these chain portions. Thelower reach E2 of the endless picker chain E is passed over a centrallydisposed supporting idler sprocket 31 before the chain reaches the drumIi. Any means for moving the chain E can be used and I have shown inFigure 1 a motor X that has a sprocket and chain connection 3'10. withthe shaft 21, see Figure 12, that is disposed at the right hand end ofthe row of shafts 21 illustrated in Figure 8. Another idler sprocket Ila supports the upper reach El and is connected to the shaft 24a by acrossed chain and sprocket connection indicated generally at lib inFigure 1.

The means for driving the combined picker and endless conveyor E isclearly shown in Figures 8 and 12. The right hand shaft 27 in Figure 8is connected to the motor K by the chain and sprocket connection Zila.In Fig. 12, I show the right hand shaft 2? of Fig. 8, provided with apair of sprockets 29a disposed adjacent to the sprockets 3G. The idlersprockets 36 are mounted on a shaft 36a and the same shaft carries apair of driven sprockets 351) that are placed adjacent to the sprocket36. The sprockets 29a are connected to the sprockets 3th by sprocketchains 38a. It will therefore be seen that the motor K drives theconveyor E by the chain and sprocket connection 37a. It will also beseen that the shaft 35a is positively connected to the right hand shaft2? in Figure 8 by the chains 363a and sprockets 29a and 3627. Any typeof power mechanism may be used for actuating the conveyor E.

Hop vine branch retarding bafiles I provide a plurality of bafiles L,see Fig. 1, for retarding the movement of the material through thebranch picking unit in order to give the fingers IS a greater length oftime to act on the vine. I place a baflie L between each pair of arcedportions 34 of the conveyor E shown in Fig. 8 and the purpose of theseis not only to retard the movement of the hop branches so that thefingers 515 will have suificient time to act on the hop branches andremove hops therefrom, but in addition to cause the vines to move in anundulating path along the conveyor E.

Each baffle L comprises a pair of vertically reciprocable combs. In Fig.8 I illustrate a bellcrank lever 38 as being a part of the left handbaflle L and the lever is pivoted to the frame members l3a at 39, seealso Fig. 9. Two spacedapart bell-crank levers 38 are used at the lefthand end of Fig. 8, and their lower arms are pivotally secured at til toa cross member 4! of a vertically movable comb. The cross member 4|carries a plurality of tines 62 that constitute the comb and extend atright angles to the plane of the spaced-apart frame members I 3a andI3a. In Figure 13 I show a top plan View of the bell-cranks 38 andindicate how they are connected to the cross member 4! of one of thecombs. The fingers or tines G2 are also welded to the cross member 4%.The fingers 42 are guided in their vertical movement by a horizontallypositioned channel iron 33, see Figures 8 and 14, and this channel ironhas openings 44 for slidably receiving the tines 42.

Again referring to Figure 8, it will be seen that a T-shaped bell-crank45 is arranged adjacent to the left-hand bell-crank 38 and has an arm45a that extends to the left of a pivot point 46 and this arm has across member 41 which is similar in shape to the cross member ll andconstitutes a portion of a second reciprocable comb. The cross member l?carries a plurality of tines 48, see Figure 13, which lie in the sameplane as the tines 52 and these tines are clearly shown in Figure 13.The tines 48 have their lower ends slidably received in every other oneof the openings 44 in the channel 43, see Figure 14.

The upper frame members i311 which supports the pairs of bell cranks 3Sand 55 are adjustably supported on the lower frame members 13 bydepending members I31) that are slidably received in guides He,supported by the frame members I3, see Figure 8. Cap screws 13d arethreaded into nuts 53c, carried by the depending members I31: and bearon the members i3 for supporting the frame members [3a the desiredheight above the frame members I3.

Figure 8 illustrates how the lower ends of the tines t2 and 48 formingthe left hand baflie L and comprising the pair of reciprocable combs,extend down into the transverse trough formed by a portion of theconveyor E as it dips around the left hand pair of idlers 3!. The lefthand baffle L in Figure 8 comprising the two reciprocable combs t2 and58 includes the guide channel 43 for the combs and the supports @311that connect the channel to the frame members l3a together with thebracing members 431) for the supports. Since the baflies L are entirelysupported by the frame members isa, it is possible to raise or lowerthem with respect to the conveyor E by adjusting the cap screws l3d. Thevine portions carried along by the finger carrying conveyor E must passunder the channels 43 of the baffles L and in addition must threadthrough the alternately lowered combs 42 and $8. The combs retard thevine movement and permit the fingers is to perform their pickingoperation on the vine portions. It is also possible to lift the upperframe l3a with its bell crank levers and combs off from the lower frame53 for the purpose of inspecting the combs and other mechanism.

I provide means for rocking the bell-cranks 33 and 45 about their pivots39 and G6, and this means comprises a bar 49 that is pivoted to thebell-crank 38 at 55 and is pivoted at 5! to the bell-crank B5. Areciprocation of this bar will rock the bell-cranks and the structure issuch that the comb 52 will be lifted while the comb 48 will be loweredand this movement will alternate between the combs so long as themachine operates. The vertical movement of the combs is such as to bringthe lower ends of the tines t2 and 48 up to a level with the undersideof the channel iron 43, see Figure 8. The reciprocal movement of thepair of combs 42 and 48 will retard the flow of hop branches and hopclusters through the machine. In fact, the hop branches and clustersmust pass downwardly and under the channel iron 43 when moved alongthrough the branch picking portion of the device.

In Figure 1, I illustrate a bell-crank lever 38 at each end of thebranch picking unit of the machine, and between these end bell-cranklevers I place six T-shaped bell-cranks 45. Again, I do not wish to beconfined to this exact number acsnoec of units. Where two T-shapedbell-cranks 45 are arranged side by side, see Figures 8 and 11, the arm45b of one bell-crank 45 will cooperate with an adjacent arm 45a of thenext T-shaped bell-crank to reciprocate a pair of combs 52 and 41,respectively.

I provide two bars 49 and pivotally connect one to the upper ends of onerow of bell-cranks 38 and 45 and pivotally connect the other one to theupper ends of a similar row of hell cranks. The bell cranks 38 and 45are provided in pairs and are placed at opposite sides of the pickingunit. The means for reciprocating the two bars 49 is shown in Figures 8and 11. A connecting rod 53 is pivoted to each bar 49 at 54 and the freeend of each rod 53 is connected at 55, see Figure 11, to a crank portion56 of a crank shaft 51. The crank shaft is mounted in bearings '58 andit carries a sprocket 59, see Figures 1 and 11, which is connected by asprocket chain 60 to the right hand end shaft 21.

As the crank shaft 51 is rotated, the crank portions 56 will reciprocatethe connecting rods 53 which in turn will reciprocate the bars 49. Allof the pairs of bell-cranks 38 and 45 will be oscillated and theoscillation of the bell-cranks will reciprocate the combs 52 and 48which control the flow of material along the conveyor E.

Operation The trommel A performs its work in the manner alreadydescribed and delivers hops and other material which is small enough topass through the mesh of the lower reach Fl of the screen conveyor F, tothe belt X in Figure 1. The bottom of the trommel has inclined boards 6!and 62 for guiding the freed hops and other small material to the lefthand side of the conveyor X. My copending case, Serial No. 179,723, setsforth how the belt X functions.

The material dropped upon the upper reach E! of the combined picker andendless conveyor E by the screen mesh conveyor B of the hop picker andby the upper reach F2 of the trommel A will be carried to the hop vinebranch and cluster spreader consisting of the fixed comb or breaker forkH and the rotary feeder fork J. The vine branches are broken andseparated and are then carried to the picking unit.

The upper reach E! of the conveyor E is formed into a plurality ofsuccessive convex arcuate portions 34 by the sprockets 29 and these areseparated from each other by the valleys in the upper reach formed bythe idler sprockets 3!. In each valley I mount a baffle L comprising apair of reciprccable combs 42 and 48. The convex arcuate portions 3d ofthe upper reach Eli are curved to spread the outer ends of the finger l5and move them in a convex are into the branches containing the hops. Thebaifles L cooperate with the convex curved portions 36 of the upperreach to cause the vines to move in an undulating path along the upperreach El. The vine portions passing under the channels t? are curved ina convex manner and are thus opened up to the convex sweep of thefingers l5 as they move over the convex arcs 3 3. A more efficientpicking of hops results from this particular movement of vines andpicking fingers.

The convex curvatures 3 3 of the upper reach El carries the vinesagainst the pairs of alternately reciprocable combs in each baffle L.The vines are carried downwardly by the upper reach E1 just before theyreach the baflle and then are carried upwardly on the other side.

The vines are momentarily held by each comb while in its down positionand then this comb releases its hold on the vines while its companioncomb takes over and moves into its down position. The fingers l5'willpick hops from the vines while the latter are held temporarily by thecombs which are in their down positions.

The freed hops will drop upon the inclined chute 35 and be conveyed tothe upper surface of the lower reach Fl of the screen mesh conveyor F.Here the freed hops will sift through the mesh of the screen F and dropupon the belt X. The stems and other material willbe fed out at the topof theupper' reach E1.

I claim:

1. In combination; a trommel and a branch and hop cluster picker; thetrommel having a screen conveyor with a lower reach designed to receivehop vine branches and hop clusters, the mesh of the screen being onlylarge enough to permit individual hops to pass therethrough;

the conveyor having an upper reach disposed a considerable distanceabove the lower one; a shield underlying a portion of the upper reachand being positioned for cooperation therewith for supporting anymaterial too large to pass through the mesh of the lower reach and thatis moving from the upper surface of the lower reach onto the undersurface of the upper reach; whereby the shield will support thismaterial throughout the length of the shield; the branch and clusterpicker includinga conveyor having a portion extending above the lowerreach of the trommel endless conveyor and under the upper reach thereofand in a position to receive any material carried by the'upper reach ofthe trommel screen beyond the end of the shield; hop picking means foracting upon the material received by the second-named conveyor and forremoving any hops therefrom; and means for delivering the hops freed bythe hop picking means to a positionabove the lower reach of thefirst-named conveyor for screening purposes.

2'. In a device of the type described; a trommel comprising an endlessscreen conveyor having a lower reach designed to receive material to bescreened; means disposed below the lower reach for receiving anymaterial passing through the screen; the conveyor having an upper reachdisposed a considerable distance above the lower one; a materialsupporting shield underlying a portion of the upper reach of the screenconveyor and extending from a point where the upper reach starts; saidshield comprising an endless conveyor having an upper reach parallelinga portion of the upper reach of the screen conveyor; means for causingthe upper reach of the conveyor shield to travel at the same speed asthe adjacent portion of the upper reach of the screen conveyor; andmeans disposed between the upper and lower reaches of the screenconveyor for receiving material dropped from the upper reach as thismaterial passes beyond the material supporting shield.

3. In a device of the type described; a branch picker comprising acombined picker and endless conveyor for moving the material to bepicked; a fixed breaker fork having depending tines extending to aslight distance above the conveyor for temporarily arresting themovementof the material; a rotary feeder fork with stripper bars adaptedto pass between the tines and pull the material past thetines; and meansfor moving the conveyor and the rotary feeder fork for causing thestripper bars to pass between the depending tines and force materialbetween tines of the fixed breaker fork; said rotary feeder forkincluding a pair of endless chains spaced apart and passed around pairsof sprockets; spaced cross bars connected to the chains; said stripperbars being arranged in pairs with each pair being connected to adifferent cross bar; each cross bar having its pair of stripper barsdisposed in a position different from the other pairs so that only twostripper bars will be passing between the stationary tines at any giventime and all of the spaces between the tines will have at least onebreaker bar pass therethrough for each complete cycle of the pair ofendless chains.

4. In combination; a combined picker and endless conveyor including apair of endless chains with spaced cross bars extending therebetween andcarried thereby; hop picking fingers carried by each cross bar; aplurality of pairs of sprockets lying in the same plane and supportingthe upper reach of the conveyor, each pair being spaced from adjacentpairs; a pair of idler sprockets positioned in each space providedbetween the pairs of the first-mentioned sprockets and being placedbelow the plane thereof, the endless chains being alternately passedround the upper and the lower pairs of sprockets to form a plurality ofvalleys in the upper reach of the conveyor; a bafile positioned at eachvalley and composed of a pair of reciprocable forks; and means formoving the conveyor and reciprocating the forks so that one fork of eachbaffle will extend into its associate valley and vice versa during themovement of the conveyor.

5. In combination; a combined picker and endless conveyor including apair of endless chains with spaced cross bars extending therebetween andcarried thereby; hop picking fingers carried by each cross bar; aplurality of pairs of sprockets lying in the same plane and supportingthe upper reach of the conveyor, each pair being spaced from adjacentpairs; a pair of idler sprockets positioned in each space providedbetween the pairs of the first-mentioned sprockets and being placedbelow the plane thereof, the endless chains being alternately passedaround the upper end the lower pairs of sprockets to form a plurality ofvalleys in the upper reach of the conveyor; a

bafiie positioned at each valley and composed of v a pair of reciprocalforks; and means for moving the conveyor and reciprocating the forks sothat one fork of each bafile will extend into its associate valley andvice versa during the movement of the conveyor; the two forks of eachbaflie lying in the same plane; the first mentioned sprockets and theidlers being so arranged that the fingers of the conveyor will move inplanes substantially paralleling the plane of the forks in each baffleso that a picking action will take place while the material being movedby the upper reach is temporarily arrested by the forks in the bafiies.

6. In combination; a combined picker and endless conveyor including apair of endless chains with spaced cross bars extending therebetween andcarried thereby; hop picking fingers carried by each cross bar; aplurality of pairs of sprockets lying in the same plane and supportingthe upper reach of the conveyor, each pair being spaced from adjacentpairs; a pair of idler sprockets positioned in each space providedbetween the pairs of the first-mentioned sprockets and being placedbelow the plane thereof, the endless chains being alternately passedaround the upper and the lower pairs of sprockets to form a plurality ofvalleys in the upper reach of the conveyor; a baffle positioned at eachvalley and composed of a pair of reciprocable forks; and means for movinthe conveyor and reciprocating the forks so that one fork of each bafflewill extend into its associate valley and vice versa during the movementof the conveyor; said fork reciprocating means including pairs of rockerarms pivotally supported at points between their ends and having theiroppositely extending arm ends disposed adjacent to the arm ends of thenext pair of rocker arms and each pair of arm ends supporting a pair offorks; each baflle having one fork secured to the ends of an adjacentrocker arm and having its second fork secured to the ends of anotheradjacent rocker arm; and means for oscillating said arms for causing theadjacent rocker arm ends to move in opposite directions and to movetheir forks in opposite directions.

7. In combination: a trommel and a branch and hop cluster picker; thetrommel having a screen conveyor with a lower reach designed to receivehop vine branches and hop clusters, the mesh of the screen being onlylarge enough to permit individual hops to pass therethrough; theconveyor having an upper reach disposed a considerable distance abovethe lower one; a shield underlying a portion of the upper reach andbeing positioned for cooperation therewith for supporting any materialtoo large to pass through the mesh of the lower reach and that is movingfrom the upper surface of the lower reach onto the under surface of theupper reach; whereby the shield will support this material throughoutthe length of the shield; the branch and cluster picker including meansextending between the upper and lower reaches of the con veyor anddisposed to receive any material carried beyond the end of the shield;and hop picking means for acting upon the material received by saidfirst mentioned means for removing any hops therefrom and for deliveringthe freed hops to a position above the lower reach of the first-namedconveyor for screening purposes.

8. In combination: an endless conveyor for moving hop vine parts andhaving an upper and a lower reach; hop-picking fingers carried thereby;means supporting the upper reach of said conveyor and guiding this reachalong a path defining a plurality of spaced-apart valleys therein; abafiie positioned at each valley and projecting into engagement with thehop vine parts on the conveyor for arresting the movement of the vineparts; each baffle including a pair of reciprocable combs; means formoving the conveyor to advance the hop vine parts under the combs; andmeans operable to reciprocate first one comb and then the other of eachbafiie into the valley at which the particular baffle is positioned.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8; and in which the pairs ofcombs in each baiile he in'the same plane; the means that supports theupper reach of the conveyor guiding this reach to move the hop-pickingfingers thereon in planes paralleling the planes of the combs in thebailies, while passing through the valleys at the baffles duringtemporary arresting movement of the hop vine parts.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 8; and in which thecomb-reciprocating means includes pairs of rocker arms pivotallysupported at points between their ends, and having theiroppositely-extending arm ends disposed adja cent to the arm ends of thenext pair of rocker arms; each pair of arm ends supporting a pair ofcombs that lie in the same plane, and constitute a part of each battle;and means operable to oscillate said arms to move the adjacent rockerarm ends in opposite directions and to move their combs in oppositedirections.

11. In combination: an endless conveyor for moving hop vine parts;hop-picking fingers carried by the conveyor; each finger having a freeend; means supporting a portion of said conveyor and guiding thisportion along a path defining a plurality of alternate crests andvalleys therein, with the tops of the crests lying in one plane; theconveyor portion forming each valley being U-shaped, with parallel sidesthat extend substantially at right angles to the plane of the crests;the U-shaped valley portion having the fingers projecting thereintoduring movement of the conveyor; the parallel sides of the valley beingspaced apart at a distance to present the free ends of the fingerscarried by these parallel sides to move in a common plane; the fingerson one parallel side moving in one direction along the common plane inone direction, and the fingers on the other parallel side moving in theopposite direction along the common plane; and a baffle extending intothe valley and projecting into engagement with the hop vine parts forretarding the movement of the vine parts therethrough.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11; and in which at least onecomb is reciprocably carried by each bafile; and means operable toreciprocate the comb to first advance it beyond the bafiie and fartherinto the valley to engage with the vine parts and arrest movement of thevine parts, and then to retract the comb to release the vine parts.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 11; and in which two combs arereciprocably carried by each baffle; and means operable to reciprocatethe combs in opposite directions, with each comb being advanced beyondthe baffle and farther into the valley to engage with the vine parts andarrest movement of the vine parts, and then to reverse itself to releasethe vine parts; the other comb being moved farther into the valley whenr the first comb is retracting; whereby the movement of the vine partsare retarded when either comb is advanced and the other comb retracted.

14. In combination: an endless conveyor for moving hop vine parts andhaving an upper and a lower reach; hop-picking fingers carried by theconveyor; reciprocating combs positioned above said conveyor to extendtransversely thereacross; these combs being movable alternately towardand away from said conveyor; means for advancing said conveyor undersaid combs; means operable to reciprocate said combs alternately intoand out of engagement with the hop vine parts so as to alternatelyretard the movement of said vine parts relative to said conveyor forpicking of hops by said fingers, and then releasing the vine parts formovement with said conveyor.

15. In combination: a conveyor for moving hop vine parts; hop-pickingfingers carried by the conveyor; combs positioned above said conveyor toextend transversely thereacross; these combs being movable alternatelytoward and away from said conveyor; means for advancing said conveyorunder said combs; means operable to move said combs alternately intoengagement with hop vine parts so as to alternately retard the movementof said vine parts relative to said conveyor for picking of hops by saidfingers, and then releasing said vine parts for movement with saidconveyor.

16. A picking machine comprising a frame; a conveyor movably mounted onsaid frame; picking fingers attached to said conveyor and extendingoutwardly therefrom; combs mounted on said frame to extend transverselyacross the conveyor; these combs being movable toward and away from saidconveyor; means for moving said conveyor under the combs; means operableto move said combs into and out of engagement with hop vine parts beingcarried by said c0nveyor for respectively retarding the movement of saidvine parts with respect to said conveyor for picking of hops by saidfingers, and then releasing said vine parts for movement with saidconveyor.

17. A picking machine comprising a frame; a continuously-moving conveyormovably mounted in the frame; picking fingers attached to said conveyorand extending outwardly therefrom; combs movably mounted on said frameto extend transversely across the conveyor; these combs being movabletoward and away from said conveyor; means for continuously moving saidconveyor under said combs; means operable to move said combs into andout of engagement with the hop vine parts being carried by said conveyorfor respectively retarding the movement of said vine parts for pickingof hops by said fingers, and then releasing said vine parts for movementwith said conveyor.

18. A picking machine comprising a frame; a conveyor movably mounted onsaid frame; picking fingers attached to said conveyor; combs movablymounted on said frame to extend transversely across the conveyor; thesecombs being movable toward and away from said conveyor; means operableto move said combs into and out of position to engage material carriedby said conveyor for respectively retarding the movement of saidmaterial with respect to said conveyor for picking action by the fingerson said material, and then releasing said material for movement withsaid conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re.22,889 Dauenhauer June 17, 1947 141,526 Verill Aug. 5, 1873642,769 Wessel Feb. 6, 1900 710,981 Jessup Oct. 14, 1902 716,587 SmithDec. 23, 1902 808,442 Ferguson et a1. Dec. 26, 1905 857,461 Horst et alJune 18, 1907 1,196,458 Jockisch Aug. 29, 1916 1,300,090 Yatzuk Apr. 8,1919 1,728,075 Norton Sept. 10, 1929 2,071,743 I-Iartburg Feb. 23, 19372,114,727 Thys Apr. 19, 1938 2,212,296 Livermon Aug. 20, 1940 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 414,459 Germany June 5. 1925

